There’s only one thing that kept starter Kyle Hendricks from a solid performance in his final start at Wrigley Field on Wednesday. His name was Max Kepler. The Twins’ right fielder was a pain in Hendricks’ side in the Cubs’ 5-3 loss to Minnesota, going 3-for-3 with a pair of no-doubt home runs and a double.
Kepler got the Twins going early as he launched a long homer off Hendricks after getting behind in the count, giving Minnesota an early 2-0 lead. It was the 31st homer Hendricks has allowed this season, which is a career-high and fifth-most in MLB.